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A major in the natural sciences successfully prepares students for acceptance into health-related professional schools, science graduate programs, and immediate employment after graduation.

Guaranteed research opportunities with faculty mentors.

Students in biology, biochemistry, and biopsychology are provided with experiences to prepare them to be successful in a wide range of career opportunities. Viterbo collaborates with local and regional health care institutions to place students in relevant internship experiences. Students have the opportunity to pursue paid summer research experiences with faculty specializing in biological, biochemical, and neuroscience research. Graduates in biology, biochemistry, and biopsychology from Viterbo have an over 95% acceptance rate into health-related professional schools and graduate programs (compared to a national 40–60% acceptance rate).

Career Examples

Medical lab scientist

Field biologist

Veterinarian

Physical therapist

Pharmacist

Physician

Medical researcher

Neuropsychologist

Neuroscientist

Biomedical research technician

Program Information

At Viterbo, students are provided with a breadth of knowledge within the biological sciences as well as the opportunity to gain a greater depth of knowledge in specialized areas of interest. Majors benefit from a student-centered learning environment including active teaching techniques, hands-on learning experiences, and career exploration embedded within the curriculum. Students learn to think critically, independently, and creatively; and take part in guaranteed research or internship opportunities with Viterbo faculty or one of our many science and health care partners.

Viterbo’s biology program provides students with a breadth of knowledge within the biological sciences, including cellular and molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, ecology, behavior, and evolution; as well as the opportunity to gain a greater depth of knowledge in specialized areas of interest. The biology program at Viterbo offers a student-centered learning environment including hands-on experiences, career exploration, research, and internships within the curriculum.

Viterbo’s biochemistry program offers students an interdisciplinary major between the fields of biology and chemistry through investigations of how life holds together at the cellular and molecular level. Students are led through curriculum that requires them to think critically, independently, and creatively. Through courses and labs, biochemistry majors will be prepared for an outstanding career or study in graduate, professional, or medical school.

Viterbo’s biopsychology program, also known as behavioral neuroscience, provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to critically evaluate relationships between the brain and human/animal behaviors. Students will learn and test foundational and contemporary theories through critical thinking exercises, laboratory experiments, independent research, and presenting research findings.

The science minor at Viterbo University is geared towards those in the School of Education. There is a high credit requirement for this minor as a result of the minor's purpose of preparing students to become science teachers upon graduation. The relevant academic routes for students pursuing a science minor would fall into the Middle/Secondary Early Adolescence through Adolescence (6–12) program. This program includes: - biology - broad field science - chemistry What this means, is that a science minor greatly enhances the education and qualification for those who plan on majoring to become biology, science, or chemistry teachers at the 6-12th grade levels. The total credits of the minor are 27-28. Transfer course and waivers and/or substitutions could modify these credit totals.

Humans are inescapably connected to the environment—from food and medicine to the services the environment provides (clean air and water for example). For students concerned about the human impact on the environment and how to improve the world, an environmental biology minor is an excellent choice. The environmental biology minor at Viterbo University helps connect students to the natural world through a flexible program with a broad-based background in biology, chemistry, environmental science, and sustainability courses. This minor takes an integrated approach to environmental studies with a systems-level view of how organisms interact with the environment, helping graduates in a variety of careers.

Tomorrow's leaders need to understand the behavior of whole systems in order to transform organizations and communities. By earning a sustainability minor, you will learn to lead, guide, and inspire others to a sustainable future. Learn about practices aimed at integrating social, environmental, and economic considerations toward the wise use of resources for current and future generations.

The sports and leisure industries continue their rapid growth and a strong demand exists for qualified and skilled professionals with a strong background in science, research, exercise science, human performance, and psychology combined with management and ethical leadership skills. The sport science minor at Viterbo University helps students expand their knowledge on the complexities of sport science, and provides students with experience needed to get a foot in the door for graduate school, as well as the industry of sport science itself. The skills learned with this minor work wonders in a multitude of professions, and is an excellent choice for those who are interested. Students majoring in sport management and leadership may not declare a sport science minor.

Elizabeth Eckert

My experiences in the classroom, assuming leadership roles, preforming research, and working with my mentors greatly benefit me in my current position as a predoctoral student at Mayo Graduate School. My research experiences at Viterbo were key to my entry into graduate school, and the academic advising and career advice I received were phenomenal.

Working at the USGS

Viterbo University environmental biology major Paxton Smith is working at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) this summer. He took over the viterbosnaps Snapchat account to highlight his experience.